Statements & Speeches

"Welcome to Dairy Forum 2019!" said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA, as he began his remarks. "It is great to see you here. Once again, we have a great turnout! I think this is a credit to the great people on my team at IDFA who spend a lot of time carefully putting this event together every year…for 34 years now. I think that it is obviously a credit to all of you who care deeply about our industry and relish the opportunity to learn, to network and maybe even enjoy a minute or two in the sunshine. It is powerful when the U.S. dairy industry comes together to discuss how we can work together to lead dairy forward! "

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture today for releasing the final rule on school meals, which makes permanent the option for schools to offer low-fat flavored milk at each meal service. “We commend USDA’s commitment to provide students with access to a variety of nutritious and healthy milk options, including the flavored milks they enjoy,” Dykes said. “Milk is the #1 source of nine essential nutrients in student diets. Milk also is a source of three out of four nutrients of public health concern for under-consumption: potassium, vitamin D and calcium,” he said.

IDFA issued the following statement by Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, regarding the signing today of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during the G20 Summit Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Although we’re pleased that the three countries have taken the next step in moving the USMCA forward, the agreement is a hollow victory unless the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are lifted."

The House Agriculture Committee today approved H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. IDFA thanked Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and members of his committee for approving a farm bill that includes key provisions for dairy. IDFA worked closely with the National Milk Producers Federation to unite behind shared solutions that are reflected in the bill. “We’re hopeful that our collaborative efforts will help to smooth the ultimate enactment of a farm bill that offers enhanced risk management options for dairy processors and producers and establishes a retailer incentive program in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that includes fluid milk,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO.

IDFA released a statement by Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, regarding the confirmation of Gregg Doud as the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). “We welcome Gregg’s experience and expertise as the United States works to preserve the critically important dairy export market in Mexico, increase meaningful market access in Canada and seek new opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region,” Dykes said.

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, commended policymakers for including assistance for dairy farmers in the bipartisan budget bill currently under consideration by Congress. “The package will eliminate a $20 million cap on livestock insurance, allow new policies tailored to dairy farmers to be developed and bolster the Margin Protection Program,” Dykes said. “This effort sets us up to tackle the 2018 Farm Bill, due September 30, efficiently and effectively. It is a win for the dairy industry as a whole, and we are grateful to the members of the House and Senate who made it happen.”

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) yesterday released his hold on the nomination of Gregg Doud as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) chief agricultural negotiator. IDFA released a statement welcoming the move. “We need a strong voice for agriculture and hope the Senate will move forward on his confirmation quickly,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO. “Preserving the dairy export market in Mexico, gaining greater market access in Canada and initiating bilateral trade agreements with markets in the Asia Pacific region are critically important to the continued growth of the U.S. dairy industry.” Sen. Flake, who instated the delay last November over some proposed changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), removed the hold after securing agreements on parts of the trade pact with USTR. Doud will now have to be approved by the full Senate. A date for the confirmation vote has not been announced.

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, addressed more than 1,000 dairy processors, producers, suppliers and other stakeholders on Monday at Dairy Forum 2018 with a look back at his first year at IDFA and an overview of the association’s efforts to build demand and open markets for dairy products. He continued his call for increased collaboration across the dairy industry, as well as in the broader food and beverage sector, to emphasize the significant impact that dairy and the food industry have on the U.S. economy.

Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined Congressman Billy Long, R-Mo., to introduce legislation today to codify a definition of the term “natural cheese” within the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, released a statement thanking the senators and congressmen for introducing the bill, which would allow cheese makers to continue using the term on their products. “We appreciate the senators’ and congressman’s leadership to ensure that the term natural cheese retains its historic meaning,” he said.

The International Dairy Foods Association issued the a statement by Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, regarding “The Securing America's Future Act,” which was introduced last week by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.). The act aims to reform legal immigration programs in part by creating a new agricultural guest-worker program for America’s farmers and ranchers. “We appreciate the leadership of Rep. Goodlatte on the guest-worker program for agriculture and his willingness to consider the unique needs of our industry."

IDFA this week applauded President Donald Trump and his administration for highlighting workforce development as a core pillar of its commitment to bringing prosperity back rural American communities. “Announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting today, the administration’s task force recommendations highlight the critical connection between investing in the rural workforce and strengthening American manufacturing,” said Michael Dykes, IDFA president and CEO, in a statement released shortly after. “The President’s additional comments on the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) today seem to indicate a deepening understanding of the critical connection between trade agreements and the farming community, he added. “We are pleased that he is listening and hopeful for positive momentum moving forward.”

Last week the White House announced the nomination of Ted McKinney as undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Sam Clovis as USDA undersecretary for research, education and economics. Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO welcomed the announcement. “I have known and worked extensively with Ted for the better part of 20 years and am sure that he will define this important position for our agriculture industry,” Dykes said. He also welcomed Clovis’ nomination as an important step in completing a strong team of leaders at the agency.

IDFA and members were encouraged to see several key priorities for the U.S. dairy industry reflected in the administration’s objectives for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. “We strongly support the call for renegotiation, and we look forward to working with the U.S. Trade Representative and others in the administration to preserve the critically important dairy export market in Mexico,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO. “We are pleased to see efforts to address unjustified measures that unfairly limit access to markets for U.S. goods, such as price undercutting, included in the administration’s negotiating objectives.”

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, today applauded the nomination of Stephen Censky as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “With this appointment, Secretary Perdue is assembling a strong leadership team, he said. “We look forward to working with Steve on several important issues including implementation of flexibility in the school lunch program, expanding agricultural trade and the reauthorization of the farm bill.”

IDFA applauded the White House decision last week to nominate Gregg Doud as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s chief agriculture negotiator. “I have worked with Gregg on the Ag Roundtable, when he served as a senior staffer for Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and as a staffer with the Senate Agriculture Committee under chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), and know that he will work both with us and for us,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO. “Ambassador Lighthizer has pledged that agriculture ‘will be front and center’ in any trade deal the U.S. negotiates, including the North American Free Trade Agreement. I can’t think of a better person than Gregg Doud to be on those front lines.”